Jade

by Davenport, Maryann

  “I sure hope he’s right. I want that old goat out of here so badly.” Jade hated the way Rafael’s letter lowered her mood. She didn’t like to let a snake like Winks affect her at all.

  On the first of August, Jade bought a tray of coffee and doughnuts from the Cozy Cup and carried them down the street to her old office at Favorite Specialties. She found Jack Cooper hanging a couple of huge photos of a bikini clad blonde on water skis and a tall red head in purple ski togs on the top of a trail at Mount Hood resort. His office was cleaner than she had ever seen it before.

  “Has Velma seen those?”

  “Oh, yeah. She probably won’t be speaking to me the rest of the day but you did see the posters she has up of the beach hulks in their Speedos, didn’t you? I know that’s her office now but don’t you object to her putting your stuff into storage.”

  Jade laughed and shook her head. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’ll probably put it into storage out at the farm. Are you two at war again?”

  “She started it, Mom!” Jack said it loud enough to be heard down the hall at Velma’s desk.

  Wolf poked his head around the door and waved. “I thought we were having a meeting. This looks like a party.”

  “Just my congratulations for getting the stats up to the top already. Your sales are spectacular. I really do wish you the very best, all of you.”

  The two men bowed and the three of them sat down.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be happy working out of your house?” Jack gave her a serious look. “I think you’re going to hate the security business about six months from now. I mean, just think of all the bad guys you’ll be dodging.”

  “I’m not going to be riding shotgun in the mail car of the train, Jack.”

  “They don’t even do that anymore.” Wolf chuckled and bit into his doughnut. “It flies everywhere today. You’re just afraid we can’t cut it without her. It’s about time we found out how good we are.”

  “Yeah, I guess so. We’re sure going to miss you.”

  “Thanks, both of you. Thanks a lot. This company was a lot of fun but I’m really kind of excited about my new part. Besides, I’ve begun to feel like a paranoid since we were mugged so I figure I may as well get paid for it.”

  “Are these guys trying to scare you out of the security business, Boss?” Velma darted in the door and gave Jade a hug. “Shame on you guys. Don’t you know this woman can do anything she sets her mind, too?” She glared at Jack and then laughed and sat down to the serious business at hand.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  In Jade’s Security Law class the instructor introduced a tall, distinguished-looking man named Benjamin Crowley. “Ben is an old friend of mine and retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He’s here to cover some of the legalities that might trip you up when you set up your own security agency, large or small.”

  The instructor, a balding man in a well-tailored suit, handed out some stapled papers while Crowley began writing on the blackboard. “Those handouts have federal requirements and the rules shared by most states but you’ll need to check whatever state you put sites into. Some states are pretty basic in their requirements but others, like California, have enough red tape and fees to keep you up nights.”

  “Figures.” Jade grumbled to herself while she wrote her name on her copy of the handout.

  “I gather you don’t like the golden state of California,” a handsome man behind her was talking behind her ear.

  “They want businesses to serve them but they continue to tax them to death.”

  “You must have had a miserable experience down there.”

  “I went to college there but I studied the local regs before I decided on Oregon for my business site. Believe me, the Golden State only wants your money. They forget that businesses have rights, too.”

  Crowley gave Jade and her whispering friend a hard look and then went on with his talk.

  During the question and answer period an intense young man asked him, “Do you have a site in this state? I mean people don’t seem to think security is necessary here except in the city limits of Eugene and Portland.”

  “You may find less interest in right-to-carry states, if you’re trying to get established in suburban areas. Those people know they can take the gun registration courses and protect themselves that way. You can still make a living by appealing to the people who hate the thought of shooting someone, even to protect themselves. That’s mostly the case with women.”

  Jade could feel revulsion form in her stomach. The idea that women would be expected to choose to be victims rather than try to defend themselves made her feel more at risk. She had to admit she might hesitate to shoot a stranger but Winks would be committing suicide to come after her again.

  When Crowley said he would take one more question she was surprised to see him point at her and realized her hand was up. “Uh, is there a review agency of some kind that keeps lists of security experts that are licensed and keeps track of complaints against agencies? You know, kind of a clearing house of information about this field?”

  Crowley looked at the ceiling for a moment before he answered. “If you mean, is there a government agency that tells people who is good and who is sloppy, no, there isn’t. The FBI investigates consumer complaints that a security agency is crooked and exists across state lines and your local district attorneys investigate small outfits. Each state has its registry but only the Better Business Bureau will tell you about ordinary complaints.”

  “It sounds kind of impossible to get started in a business where you want to make arrangements to transport valuable goods or find security specialists for special missions for your clients. How would any wealthy consumer or small business owner be able to find out about such services?”

  “That’s a good question. Why don’t you let me think about that one for a while, during the coffee break, and then we can talk about it some more?”

  The young man who had been sitting behind her during the class followed her to the coffee area and offered to buy her a cup.

  She shook her head and pointed to a juice window while the can banged down out of the machine. “I’ve got it. Thank you, anyway. Are you planning to open your own agency?”

  “Not right now. I’m just taking this because I needed another elective to finish up. This sounded like a good idea for a cop.”

  “So you’re studying to be a cop.”

  “I am a cop. Sergeant Capriano.” He shook her hand.

  “Jade Dixon. Have you ever worked for a security guard company?”

  He shook his head. “I was an MP in the Navy and I’m close to getting my criminology degree. I want to work in the dog partner program, maybe end up in training.”

  “Is that because you like dogs or because you like investigations?”

  “Both, I guess, but mostly dogs.”

  “Miss Dixon, would you like to talk about my answer to your question now?”

  Jade turned around and saw Crowley pointing at a couple of chairs. “Okay. Please excuse me, Sergeant.”

  After they were comfortable Crowley smiled at her as if he had made an important decision. “I read your essay you wrote when you started in the class and I see you’re trying to add a security agency to your company. Was the mugging you got caught in the only reason you got interested in security?”

  “I was going to start arranging security for shipments of high value items for a friend of mine and my husband so we wouldn’t have to worry about the stuff anymore. We would still make a little money off the deal but we wouldn’t be at risk ourselves. Then I realized that I was getting bored with catalog sales and started looking into providing security services for more than my husband and his Asian product source.”

  “Excellent. I have a better idea. How would you like to manage my security agency in Flagstaff? The views around there are fantastic and Arizona also has right-to-carry.”

  “I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Crowley, but I ha
ve a little farm not far from here and I don’t want to sell it. I love this area and I don’t take orders well.”

  “Call me, Ben. May I call you Jade?”

  “Uh, well, I guess so. Look, uh, Ben. It just wouldn’t work out. I’m not going to move.”

  “I pay top dollar and I wouldn’t be looking over your shoulder. That’s the whole idea. I want somebody who can stand on her own two feet and I think you’d be perfect. If you still wanted to be a business owner, later on, maybe we could talk about a partnership. You know, you and me? It’s expensive to start your own business. You haven’t said anything about having a backer. This might be your best opportunity without going into deep debt.”

  Jade let out a sigh. “My husband seems to like where we live right now and I don’t plan to go into debt. I plan to work out of my home office.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to go. I enjoyed your talk and I appreciate your offer but I’m not planning a move at this time.”

  At dinner, that night, she found her mind wandering while the rest were talking about a big robbery which had hit the news that day.

  “I guess old Braddock is worth a billion dollars and he has this fabulous art collection in his own private gallery. I think too many of these rich folks show off their valuables and then wonder why people break into their houses. They sure didn’t get rich because they were smart. They must’ve been lucky.” Cedric finished his coffee and leaned back.

  “I agree that you have to keep a low profile if you have a lot of money but I thought Braddock was a recluse. I would think he would have a fancy security system so it was probably because one of his staff betrayed him. No wonder Rafael wants to know everything about anyone he hires.” Matt filled his glass and Jade’s with iced tea.

  “Have all of his people been with him a long time?”

  “Oh, yeah. Several of them have worked for him since they were twelve or thirteen.” Matt gave Jade a puzzled look. “Anything wrong? You’re awful quiet tonight.”

  Jade jerked herself out of her deep concentration. “I’m okay. I just wish that FBI guy who talked to our class today had answered my question. He said he would during the coffee break but all he did was try to get me to go to work for him in Flagstaff. I still have to figure out how to get my hands on names of security experts and specialty agencies.”

  “Are you thinking of selling this place?” Cedric looked pale.

  “Relax, Uncle. I have no interest in selling this place, ever, especially after Rafael talks Winks into selling to him.”

  “What makes you so sure he’ll get that rat to sell? He might just hang on to worry you. I think he’s crazy as a loon.”

  “So do I,” Jade said. “But Henry said, over a month ago, that Winks was always complaining about the price of beef and the poor return on this ranch. He often threatened to sell the place and leave Henry without a job.”

  “Let’s hold that thought.” Tilly stood up and began to clear the table.

  At Jade’s next Security Logistics class the woman instructor handed out flyers about a Portland convention where big businesses which served the needs of small businesses would be hawking their wares. “Now this convention is kind of unique to Portland but a few other big cities have started offering something similar in just the last couple of years. You’ll find everything from businesses like UPS and FedEx showing their latest services just for the small and medium size producers all the way to Microsoft’s new software offerings for professional people working out of the home.”

  “So a small specialty company which transports only valuables probably won’t show up there. Is that right?” Jade said.

  “No. The big companies are the sponsors footing the main cost of the event but small businesses serving their brethren can have a booth. It’s probably just kind of expensive.”

  Jade looked at the price of a ticket and was impressed that it was a little cheaper than most business convention tickets. It was called the Northwest Love Fest for Small Businesses. She shook her head at the appeal to the emotions and put the flyer into her briefcase.

  Later that night, while Matt walked around the yard with her, she brought up the subject of the convention. “Could you stand to take a break from your project and join me for the day, Saturday?”

  “Sounds great. I need to get away. I’m getting stir crazy in my office. What do you suggest?”

  “Tell me if you hate the idea. I want to go to the Portland small business convention. It’s by big businesses which are selling services to small ones. I want to look over how transport companies handle valuable goods.”

  “I’m up for it. It’ll be different and we can have lunch or dinner at Stanford’s.”

  Saturday morning, when they stepped to the end of the shortest ticket line at the convention center, Jade was surprised at the noise coming from the main room. She had expected the convention to be in one of the smaller rooms and pretty empty until noon.

  “Something wrong?”

  She glanced up at Matt and smiled, shaking her head. “Not at all. I’m just surprised this is so big. I’m really pleased there’ll be so much to see.”

  When they walked through the doors, an attractive young woman handed them plastic mugs of coffee and stapled packages of ads from various companies. One of them in particular caught her eye. It said, “Turn to Armada Shippers to handle all your most valuable goods. We deliver anywhere and we’ve never lost a shipment. Can the Post Office say that?” The colorful presentation showed a swordsman in Spanish armor fighting a one-eyed pirate with a parrot on his shoulder.

  “So where do you want to start? This is going to be a lot more interesting than I thought it would be.” Matt looked like a happy kid.

  “I love your attitude. Can you see a banner anywhere for Armada Shippers?”

  “Not yet. Wait a minute. I think that might be it in the back.” Matt looked at his map of the booth layout. “At least we should be close. That section is labeled shipping, handling, and inspections.”

  While they headed down a main aisle to the booths against the back wall, Jade put checkmarks on her map to mark the places she wanted to look at later, on the way out. Matt had been right about the banner he saw. It had arrows at the bottom which pointed to a booth on the right.

  When she approached the table which held colorful pamphlets and stacks of printed forms she was greeted by an extremely handsome man with black hair, dark eyes, and bronze skin. His perfect white teeth were dazzling. “Ah, Senora, how may I help you? I am Alberto, at your service.” His slight Spanish accent added to his charm.

  “Well, uh, yes, yes you can. I would like some information on the kinds of goods you transport. I mean, do you handle things like gold figurines, priceless antiques, precious gems, rare plants or animals?”

  “Absolutely! You sound like you represent a very interesting company. May I have your card?”

  Jade pulled a card out of her brand new leather holder. She smiled when she glanced at the silhouette in the background. It was of a woman holding a high-powered rifle at the ready-to-fire position. It said “Jade Dixon, Security Agent” and listed the services she planned to arrange for her clients, her phone number, e-mail address, and website. Her website was simply a large blow up of her business card with her business details in one column and her resume in the other. “I won’t be open for business until September first but I may as well let you know my intentions. I already have clients waiting to get started with me and they are only interested in shipping valuable items.”

  “Excellent! Excellent!” He seemed to digest her card instantly and stuck it in a hand tooled holder from his jacket pocket. “Do your clients all know you from some other business? I mean, it is a little unusual for clients to appear before you open your business. We were not so fortunate.”

  “Yes. I have owned a catalog company for some time now. Some of my customers bought very expensive hard-to-find imported products from me.”

  “Miss, uh, Dixon, this is most welcome ne
ws. We have only been in this country a little over a year and we would treat you very well. I think you would be a wonderful contact for us with those special former customers of yours. Our headquarters is in Madrid but we provide full services out of Los Angeles, as well.”

  “Make that Mrs. Dixon. Can you tell me...?”

  By the time Matt got her attention and pointed at an attractive woman arranging a refreshment cart it was after eleven and she was dying of thirst. “I hate to drag you away from this discussion but I’m going to grab a drink and thought you might want to join me.” He shook Alberto’s hand and steered Jade over to the cart.

  They spotted a small vacant table to one side of a group of them in the corner and enjoyed their fresh squeezed orange juice while Jade caught her breath. “I’ve just learned more from Alberto in one hour than I’ve learned in either one of my security classes. I’m hoping I can find another company like them.”

  “I noticed the same thing when I got out of college. I learned a lot more in a short time by working for a company than I ever did in one of my engineering classes. I guess schools don’t know how to imitate real life.”

  “I wonder if they really try. I always got the impression that they thought they were the all-knowing elite and the business world was just a bunch of peasants who could barely read. Talk about living in a fantasy.”

  They decided to snack on some crackers and vegetables from the cart while they wandered to several more booths, instead of stopping for lunch. Jade collected cards from charming sales reps for the big transport companies and Matt was pleased and surprised with what he gathered. Two of the medium-sized companies which offered novel services to small companies asked him to meet with them concerning his safety designs. They wanted him to design some safety equipment for their test labs.